Flexible vehicle display screen

Abstract

A conformable vehicle display includes a flexible display screen coupled to a substrate. The substrate is a curved transparent substrate that is adapted to be coupled to a vehicle component having a curved exterior surface. The flexible display screen is at least partially separate from the exterior surface of the vehicle component and has a luminescent display. The exterior surface of the vehicle component is visible through the flexible display screen and the substrate when the flexible display screen is not activated. The flexible display screen may be a transparent organic light emitting diode display device.

1. A conformable vehicle display, comprising: a curved transparent substrate adapted to be coupled to a vehicle component having a curved exterior surface; and a flexible display screen coupled to the substrate, at least a portion of the display screen being separate from the exterior surface of the vehicle component, the flexible display screen having a luminescent display; wherein the exterior surface is visible through the flexible display screen and the substrate when the flexible display screen is not activated. 
   
   
     2. The conformable vehicle display of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior surface of the vehicle component comprises a fabric. 
   
   
     3. The conformable vehicle display of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle component is an instrument panel, a door, a pillar, or a side trim panel. 
   
   
     4. The conformable vehicle display of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises acrylic. 
   
   
     5. The conformable vehicle display of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible display screen is coupled to a surface of the substrate facing the vehicle interior. 
   
   
     6. The conformable vehicle display of  claim 5 , wherein the flexible display screen is fastened to the substrate. 
   
   
     7. The conformable vehicle display of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible display screen is incorporated into the substrate. 
   
   
     8. The conformable vehicle display of  claim 7 , wherein the flexible display screen is disposed in a recess in the substrate. 
   
   
     9. The conformable vehicle display of  claim 7 , wherein the flexible display screen is insert molded into the substrate. 
   
   
     10. The conformable vehicle display of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible display screen is a matrix display. 
   
   
     11. The conformable vehicle display of  claim 10 , wherein the flexible display screen comprises an organic light emitting diode display. 
   
   
     12. The conformable vehicle display of  claim 11 , wherein the flexible display screen comprises a transparent organic light emitting diode display. 
   
   
     13. The conformable vehicle display of  claim 1 , further comprising a trim layer incorporated into the substrate between the vehicle component and the flexible display screen. 
   
   
     14. The conformable vehicle display of  claim 13 , wherein the trim layer is molded into the substrate. 
   
   
     15. The conformable vehicle display of  claim 14 , wherein the trim layer is a fabric material. 
   
   
     16. A vehicle instrument panel, comprising: a curved base surface; a fabric layer coupled to the base surface; a transparent curved substrate coupled to the base surface above the fabric layer; and a flexible transparent organic light emitting diode display screen coupled to and matching the curvature of the substrate above the fabric layer, wherein the fabric layer is visible when the display screen is off. 
   
   
     17. The vehicle instrument panel of  claim 16 , wherein the organic light emitting diode display is insert molded into the substrate. 
   
   
     18. The vehicle instrument panel of  claim 16 , wherein the organic light emitting diode display is incorporated into the substrate. 
   
   
     19. The vehicle instrument panel of  claim 18 , wherein the organic light emitting diode display is disposed in a recess in the substrate. 
   
   
     20. The vehicle instrument panel of  claim 16 , wherein the organic light emitting diode display is coupled to a surface of the substrate facing an interior compartment of a vehicle. 
   
   
     21. The vehicle instrument panel of  claim 20 , wherein the organic light emitting diode display is fastened to the substrate. 
   
   
     22. A method of making a vehicle display, comprising the steps of: providing a vehicle component, a transparent curved substrate, and a flexible light emitting display; coupling the light emitting display to the substrate; and coupling the substrate to a textured exterior surface of the vehicle component. 
   
   
     23. The method of  claim 22 , further comprising the step of molding the light emitting display into the substrate. 
   
   
     24. The method of  claim 22 , further comprising the step of molding a fabric layer into the substrate between the flexible light emitting display and the exterior surface. 
   
   
     25. The method of  claim 22 , further comprising the step of creating a recess in the substrate, wherein the light emitting display is coupled to the substrate by placement into the recess. 
   
   
     26. The method of  claim 22 , wherein the light emitting display comprises an organic light emitting diode display. 
   
   
     27. The method of  claim 22 , wherein the exterior surface of the vehicle component is fabric. 
   
   
     28. The method of  claim 22 , further comprising the step of providing a fabric layer incorporated into the substrate between the vehicle component and the flexible display screen. 
   
   
     29. The method of  claim 22 , wherein the vehicle component is an instrument panel.